Nick Reiner Seeks Access to Trust Funds Amid Slayer Statute Dispute
The son of the late Rob and Michele Reiner argues that a portion of his trust inheritance, derived from his grandfather, should not be barred by California's Slayer Statute, while prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty in his murder case.
A Los Angeles civil court hearing examined whether the Slayer Statute, which bars a killer from inheriting from a victim, applies to Nick Reiner’s claim to trust assets. Reiner’s attorneys contend that a significant share of the trust originated from his grandfather, Carl Reiner, who died of natural causes in 2020, and therefore should be exempt from the statute.
The filing states, "Nick’s grandfather died on June 29, 2020. Nick is not accused of causing his death. Money that was left to Nick by his grandfather is not money received by Nick from or through his parents. To the extent the funds Nick received from his grandfather are Nick’s personal assets, they remain Nick’s and should be segregated and released from this Trust. Even if they were properly held by the Trust, the Slayer Statute does not supply a basis for withholding them."
Reiner’s team also highlighted that a portion of the trust was scheduled for payment on his 30th birthday, which occurred on September 14, 2023, before his parents’ deaths. They argue that the trustee’s own calculations show at least $558,000 became due on that date, and that the Slayer Statute should not affect money derived from a separate, irrevocable allocation made by his parents.
The defendants have not been convicted, and the court has been asked to freeze the disputed funds until the criminal trial concludes, citing concerns that the freeze would impede Reiner’s ability to retain legal representation.
Reiner was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of his parents in Brentwood, California, in December 2023. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that the state will not pursue the death penalty, noting the views of Reiner’s siblings and a review of mitigating and aggravating factors. If convicted, Reiner faces life imprisonment without parole, though a trial date has not yet been set.